The Men Who Loved Trains: The Story of Men Who Battled Greed to Save an Ailing Industry (Railroads Past and Present)

Description

A saga about one of the oldest and most romantic enterprises in the land-America's railroads-The Men Who Loved Trains introduces some of the most dynamic businessmen in America. Here are the chieftains who have run the railroads, including those who set about grabbing power and big salaries for themselves, and others who truly loved the industry.
As a journalist and associate editor of Fortune magazine who covered the demise of Penn Central and the creation of Conrail, Rush Loving often had a front row seat to the foibles and follies of this group of men. He uncovers intrigue, greed, lust for power, boardroom battles, and takeover wars and turns them into a page-turning story for readers.
Included is the story of how the chairman of CSX Corporation, who later became George W. Bush's Treasury secretary, was inept as a manager but managed to make millions for himself while his company drifted in chaos. Men such as he were shy of scruples, yet there were also those who loved trains and railroading, and who played key roles in reshaping transportation in the northeastern United States. This book will delight not only the rail fan, but anyone interested in American business and history.

About Author

Rush Loving Jr. has written for Fortune, served as assistant director of the Office of Management and Budget under President Jimmy Carter, and worked as a consultant specializing in transportation economics, issues before Congress, and corporate communication problems. He lives in Baltimore, Maryland.

Contents

Preface 1. The Forrest Gump of Railroading 2. Meeting the Blue-Eyed Jew from Minnesota 3. A Cabal at the Greenbrier 4. The Portly Virginia Gentleman 5. An Eleventh Hour Surprise 6. "Where the Hell Is Harrisburg?" 7. Cooking the Books 8. "That Telephone Man" 9. The Granddaddy of Enron 10. Some High Society Sex 11. "They Are Going to Run Out of Cash" 12. The Scandals Unfold 13. Booted Off the Property 14. A School Band on the Railroad Tracks 15. The Unsinkable Chief Wawatam 16. Donning the Mantle of Moses 17. Merging Railroads over Bourbon 18. Selling the Shiny Silver Sphere 19. "God Save Me from the Planners and Thinkers!" 20. Son of Penn Central 21. "Why the Hell Do We Need Four Tracks Out Here?" 22. Girding for Battle 23. "We Will Fight with Every Means at Our Disposal" 24. John Snow, CEO 25. A Catalog of Blunders 26. "I Think We Want to Be Seen as Somewhat Crazy" 27. In the Betrayal Suite 28. The Day the Horse Fell Down Index